Return envelope mailing piece



Oct. 6, 1959 A. T. BERMINGHAM, JR., ETAL RETURN ENVELOPE MAILING PIECE 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 2'?, 1955 zQzmmDw Oct 6 1959 A. T. BERMINGHAM, JR.. ETAL 2,907,514

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Oct. 6, 1959v A. T. BERMINGHAM, JR., ETAL RETURN ENVELOPE MAILING PIECE '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Nm N a. s@ d@w @am a 6 NN. Y rn\ Nv \m\ N Nm.

Filed Oct. 27, 1955 @WFL NNN WNY @SNEL United States Patent `2,901,514 l RErURN ENvELoPE MAILING PIECE Arthur T.Bermir1gham,Jr.,River Forest, ul., and Glenn `;P. Holthaus, Umana, Nebr., assignors to Columbia -Envelope Company l ApplicationOlctober 27, 1955, Serial No. 543,13 7 claims. (ci. 2294-73) This invention relates to a lreturn `envelope mailing piece, `and inparticular it relates to such a mailing piece which is suitable -for manufacture in a continuous operation froma ribbon of paper stock, and the method of producing such mailing pieces.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a return "envelope mailing piece in which the various components of the mailing piece are so shaped and secured together that themailing pieces may be readily produced in a continuous operation on a paper web or ribbon.

. A further *object of `the invention is to provide a continuous method of manufacturing return envelope mailing pieces from'a "continuous paper web or ribbon, starting "with a printing operation in which the webs are printed inarotaryperfecting press.

lAfurther-o`bject `ot' the invention is to provide a mailing` piece with an integral Areturn envelope pocket which may bemailed toan addressee and `returned to the sender` with a `remittance or order in `the pocket without the needfor detaching `any part of the mailing piece.

fYet .another object ofrthe invention is to provide a return `envelope Vmailing piece in which the structural principles and thezmanufacturing .principles are equally applicable to a two-sheet :mailing piece Yor a one-sheet mailing piece `The invention `is illustrated sin theaccompanying drawings,`in which:

Fig. .l `is a plan view of :the inner face of a two-sheet mailing ,piececonstructed in accordance `with `the invention with parts broken away; l

Fig. 2 `is `a plan view of .the outer face of the mailing piece of Fig. ril; z

Fig. '3 is an elevational` `View Lof the mailing piece .of

Fig. l folded for original mailing;

Fig. 4 is agview similar to Fig. 3 showing the device folded for=return mailing; l

.Figt f5 is a fragmentary section takenalongwthe line '5-"5l of Fig.- 1` with parts broken iaway Vto `show `the construction; l

Figg is `.a schematic plan vievv showing the successive steps in the lproduction of a two-sheet mailing piece in accordance ywith the ,present invention;

Figj`7 is a schematic elevational view of apparatus Afor performing the method;

Fig. 8 is a section on` an enlarged scale taken as indicated along-the line 8-8 of Fig. 7; l

Fi` .9 is a plan view of theouterface of a single sheet mailing piece, constructed in accordance with the invention;`

Fig. l04 is "a View similar Vto-Fig.` 9`showing the inner face ofthe mailing piece; l

Fig. 11. is `an elevational View `of a singlet sheet mailing piece foldedfor initial mailing;

1Fig.,1.2isaview similar `to Fig. 11 showing the device of Fig. l1 folded for return mailing; l" l Fig. 13 is a section taken as indicated along the line 13-13 of Fig. 10; v

" `tively so that when the `mailing piece is folded with the` advertisingarea 21 superposed upon theinside of the rice d Fig. 14 is a schematic plan view showing the steps of producing a single sheet rmailing piece in accordance with the invention; and

Fig. l5 is a schematic side elevational view of suitable apparatus for making single sheet mailing pieces in accordance with theinvention.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and referring iirst to Figs. l to 5, a two-sheet mailing piece, indicated generally at 20, in accordance with ther present invention includes'an advertising area indicated generally at 21 and a return envelope body sheet area indicated generally at 22; and both said areas are divided by laterally extending fold lines 23 and 24 into three rectangular portions of equal height, there being aV rst marginal portion 25, a second marginal portion 26 and a central portion 27. The mailing piece may be folded along a central vertical line 28 to superimpose the advertising area 21 upon the return envelope area 22, and the mailing piece may then be folded along the lines 23 and 24 to reduce it to the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4 for mailing. Each of the portions 2S, 26 and 27 is uninterrupted between its boundaries by any lines of weakening, apertures, or the like; so that there areno restrictions on the arrange:- ment of printed matter in said portions.

As best seen in Figs. 1 and 5, a pocket sheet 29 is integrally connected to the marginal portion 25 of the return envelope body sheet area 22 along a fold line 30 and has its end marginal portions 31 and 32 connected to the marginal portion 25 by lines of adhesive 33 and 34. Thus, the return envelope area 22 is originally divided into `four equal rectangular quarters 25, 26, `27 and 29; and the portion 29 is `folded in upon the quarter 25 so thatthe quarter 29 serves as the pocket sheet and forms the inner Wall of an envelope pocket 35 (see Fig. 5) while the `marginal portion 25 forms lthe outer wall of said envelope pocket 35. Y

`Adjacent the fold line 30 on `the pocket sheet 29 isla semicircular area of moisture-sensitive adhesive 36, 'and on the inner face of the marginal portion 26 is a similar area of moisture-sensitive adhesive 37. As seenin Fig. 2, the -portion 25 of the return `envelope area 22 alfordsa space for a return address While the portion 26 provides a space for an original `mailing address fortsending the mailing piece to a prospective customer. The laterally extending margins 38 and 39 of the advertising area121 are provided with `jogs, or recesses 38a and 39arespecreturn envelope area '22 the jogs 38a and 39a leave the adhesive areas 36 and 37 exposed. Thus, as `seen in Figs. 3 and 4, Vfor original mailing the mailing piece may be .folded rst alongthe line 23 tol place thepocket sheet 29 in facing relationship with the center portion 27, after which the marginal portion 26 may be folded `over the outside of theenvelope pocket as seen in Fig. 3 and the mailing piece sealed by `moistening the adhesive area 37 and adhering it to the adjacent portion of the outer face of the marginal portion 25.

When'the mailing piece reaches its destination and is opened and read if `the addressee wishes to respond `to the offer'contained in the mailing piece he need only in- `sert his check in theenvelope pocket 35, fold the marginalportion 26Min against the central portion 27 and then fold therrnarginal portion 25 over the outside so as `to conceal the original mailing address and make the return mailing address visible as seen in Fig. 4. The adhe- Lsive area 36 may then be moistened and the unit sealed tion Vist that mailing pieces `may be manufactured continuously from an advancing ribbonor web ofpaper's'tock as shown schematically'in Figs. 6 to 8. In accordance with the method a ribbon R is ladvanced continuously through a rotary perfecting press P which prints any desired material on both sides of the ribbon. From.the press theribbon passes to afpair of die cutting rollers D1 and D2 in which the roller D1 has acircurnferentially extending cutting element D3 provided' with an arcuate jog D4 and also has in longitudinal alignment ywith-'the jogD4 a second jog D5. As the ribbon R passesbetween the die cutting rollers D1 and D2 a piece is cutout of the ribbon at regular intervals to form rectang'ularspaces 40 as well as forming the arcuate jogs 38a and 39a in the ribbon. At this point the ribbon has defined advertising areas 21 which are of the original ribbon Widthalter- Y nating with return envelope areas 22 which are' full ribbon width. The same portions of the mailing'piece which have been previously described are definable in the'rib'- bon, there being flanking portions 25 and'26 and a` central portion 27, and the projecting quarters of the return envelope areas 22 providing the pocket sheets 29.

From the die cutting rolls D1 and D2 the ribbon passes between a pair of adhesive applying rolls A1 and A2the upper roll A1 having laterally extending adhesive applying ribs A3 and A4 for applying to the ribbon the spaced adhesive strips 33 and 34. i'

bon passes adjacent a folder F which turns in the eX- tending marginal quarters forming the pocket sheets 29 so as to make the folded margins 30 and superimposeV each pocket sheet 29 on the next adjacent portion 25 of the ribbon so that when the ribbon passes between sealing rolls S1 and S2 the end marginal portions of the pocket sheet 29 may be firmly adhered to the adjacent portion 25 of the ribbon. Y From the sealing rolls S1 and S2 the ribbon passes between a pair of rolls M1 and M2 where the roll M1 applies the adhesive spots 36 and 37 to theribbon by means of a pair of suitably shaped and positionedadhesive applicators such as the applicator M3. v

The final steps in the production of the finished mailing piece consists of passing the ribbon under a suitable heating unit H to dry the spots 36l and 37` of moisturesensitive adhesive following which `the ribbon passes be;

of moisture-sensitive adhesive, while adjacent the oppo- Vsite margin, on the inner face of the marginal portion 126, is a similar area of moisture-sensitive adhesive 137.

As seen in Figs. ll and 12, the mailing piece is used for initial mailing to a prospect and for return mailing to the original sender in the same manner as is the twosheet mailing piece 20. Thus, for initial mailing the sheet is folded along the line 123 to placethepocket sheet 129 in facing relationship with the central portion 127, andthereafter a fold is made along theline124'toclose the second marginal portion 126 over the first'inarginal portion 125 and the mailing piece is sealed by moistening the area of moisture-sensitive adhesive 137 and sealing it to `the adjacent part of the first marginal portion 125. For return mailing from the original' addressee to the sender the mailing piece is folded as seen in Fig. 12. Thus, the first fold is made along the line 124 to place the second marginal portion 126 in facing relationship to :the central portion 127, and the second fold- 'is made along the line 123 so as to close the mailing piecel'witli thei pocket sheet v129 against the `second marginal portion" 126 and the first marginal portion 125 exposed with thereturn address thereon. The mailing piece is'sealed by N mois'tening the area of moisture-sensitive adhesive'136 and 25 From the adhesive applying rolls A1 and A2 the ribadhering it to the adjacent part of the marginal por-A tion 126.

It is clear from the foregoing descriptionzthat the single sheet form of mailing piece may also be manufacf' tured in a continuous operation from a continuously advancing ribbon R of paper. The ribbon R s'iirst passed;

through a rotary perfecting press P whichvprints the de#v sired material on both sides of the ribbon. The "-ribbonl then passes between a pair of adhesive applying rollers 'A1 and A2 which are identical with the adhesive applytween cutting rollers C1 and C2 of which the roller C1' is, l

provided With a longitudinally extending knife edge C3.

'The cutting rollers C1 and C2 are constructed to cut'the form of a return envelope body sheet indicated generally v at 122. This body sheet is similar in construction to the body sheet larea 22 of the two-sheet mailing piece 20.

Thus, it is divided along lines 123 and 124 'into a first marginal portion 125, a second marginal portion 126 and a central portion 127 each of which occupies 1/3 of the length of the sheet. A pocket sheet 129 is integrally connected with the lower marginal portion125 along a fold line 130 and is turned back along said fold line 130 so as to lie in superposed relationship with the portion 125 to which it has its end portions 131 and 132 vconnected by means of lines of adhesive 133 and 134. Thus, the marginal portion 125 of the body sheet forms the rear wall and the pocket sheet 129 the front wall of an envelope pocket 135.

`As seen in Fig. 9, the zrear surface of the marginal portion 125 provides a return address space while the address space. Adjacent the fold 130 is a small area 136 envelope ing rollers shown diagrammatically invFig. 7 except that the roller A1 has adhesive applying elements A5 and A6 which are substantially wider than the first type of elements A3 and A4 so as to apply transversely extend- 'ing double width lines of adhesive of which the forward half ultimately will become an adhesive strip 133 of one theadj` mailing piece while 4the rear half will become hesive strip 134 of the next mailing piece.

The ribbon R moves forward so that one 'margiiral' portion which is 1A -the width of the ribbon 'is'engaged by a folder F which continuously folds said marginal" portion over upon the next adjacent quarter of the ribbon. Thus, it is apparent that said marginal portion; forms the pocket sheets 129 of the series oflmailingpieces" 122 which are produced in the operatiomwhile the next adjacent quarter of the ribbon forms the first marginal From the folder F, the ribbon passes between sealing rollers S1 and S2 which portion of the mailing piece.

firmly adhere the folded marginal portion" of the strips of adhesive '13S-134 to form a seriesof pockets 135. The ribbon then moves forward between a pair of.

moisture-sensitive adhesive applying rollers M1 and M2,

the roller M1 being provided with marginal adhesive applying elements M3 which apply the spots of adhesive, 136 and`137 to the ribbon after which the ribbon passes under a heating unit H to dry the spots of adhesive 136 and 137. u

The ribbon next moves between a pair of cutting rolls C1 and C2, the roll C1 being provided with a pair of cutters C4 and C5 which cut the ribbon into' a series of onepage mailing pieces 122 each of`which has'jan envelope, pocket. Thus, the cutters C4 and C5 cut along lines' '128 Y, which are seen in Fig. 14A to pass through-the median'lin of each strip of adhesiveso that 'each mailing piece'ha's .A

a strip of adhesive at each end of the envelope pocket.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding only and no unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom, as some modiiicationswill ,L be obvious to those skilled inthe art.

We claim: 1. A return envelope mailing piece comprising: a', 'rec-rtangular body sheet which is divided by fold lines into three equal rectangular portions including two marginal portions and a center portion, each said bodylportion being uninterrupted between its boundaries, ,the .outer face of atirst marginal portion providing a mailing address space `which isutilized for an; initial mailing and the outer `face of the second marginalportionjproviding a return address space whichis utilized for a returnmailing; a pocket sheet -which overlies lthe-inner faceor one of said marginal portions, said pocket sheet having three margins contiguous with those of said one of said marginal portions Land being connected to the body sheet along said three margins to dene with said one of said margin- Val portions ian inwardly open envelope pocket; a iirst area of moisture-sensitive adhesive along the lateral outer margin of the pocket sheet; and a second area of moisture-sensitive adhesive along the lateral outer margin of said second marginal portion on the inner face thereof, whereby said mailing piece may be selectively arranged for initial mailing or 4return mailing with all three portions of the body sheet intact by folding it with the marginal portion bearing the utilized address space for the desired mailing concealing the other address space, the utilized address being outermost in each mailing.

2. The device of claim l in which the pocket sheet has its lateral margin integrally connected with the body sheet and its longitudinal margins are connected to the body sheet by means of adhesive.

3. A return envelope mailing piece comprising: a rectangular body sheet which is divided by fold lines into three laterally extending equal rectangular portions. including two marginal portions and a center portion, each said body portion being uninterrupted between its boundaries, said body sheet having an advertising area and a return envelope area which are laterally adjacent and separated by a fold line, the outer face of a lirst marginal portion of the return envelope area providing a mailing address space which is. utilized for an initial mailing and the outer face of the second marginal portion of said area providing a return address space which is utilized for a return mailing; a pocket sheet which overlies the inner face of one of said marginal portions of the return envelope area, said pocket sheet having three margins contiguous with those of said one of said marginal portions and being connected to the body sheet along said three margins to dei'lne with said one of said marginal portions an inwardly open envelope pocket; a irst small area of moisture-sensitive adhesive along the lateral outer margin of the pocket sheet, land a second small area of moisture-sensitive yadhesive along the lateral outer margin of said second marginal portion of the return envelope area on the inner face thereof, said advertising area having jogs in its lateral margins so that the advertising area may be superposed upon the return envelope area and leave both said moisture-sensitive adhesive areas exposed through said jogs, whereby said mailing piece may be selectively 'arranged for initial mailing or return mailing with `all three portions of the return envelope area intact by folding it with the marginal portion bearing the i utilized address space for the desired mailing concealing the other address space, the utilized address being outermost in each mailing.

4. The device of claim 3 in which the pocket sheet has its lateral margin integrally connected with the return envelope area of the body sheet and its longitudinal margins are connected to the body sheet by means of adhesive.

5. A return envelope mailing piece comprising: a rectangular body sheet which is divided by fold lines into three equal rectangular portions including two marginal portions and a center portion, each said body portion being uninterrupted between its boundaries, the outer face of a first marginal portion providing a mailing address space which is utilized for an initial mailing and the ,outer face of the secondrnargnalportion. providing a return address space, which is. utilized Ifor areturn mailing; a pocket `sheetwhieh overlies the inner ,face of one of said marginal portions, said pocket sheet ,having three margins contiguous with those ofsaid `one ofzsaid marginal portions and being connected tothe body sheet along said threebrnargins to vdefine with said one of said marginal portions an inwardly `open envelope pocket; and an area of adhesive along the lateral outer margin ofLthe inner tfaceofH-the lreturn address space, lwhereby said'rnailing piece may be selectively arranged for initial mailing or return mailing with all three portions of the body sheet intact by folding it with the marginal portion bearing the utilized address space for the desired mailing concealing the other address space, the utilized address being outermost in each mailing.

6. A return envelope mailing piece comprising: a body sheet which is divided by fold lines into three laterally extending equal rectangular portions including two marginal portions anda center portion, each said body portion being uninterrupted between its boundaries, and said body sheet having an advertising area and a return envelope area which are laterally adjacent and separated by a fold line, the outer face of a rst marginal portion of the return envelope area providing a mailing address space which is utilized for an initial mailing and the outer face of the second marginal portion of said area providing a return address space which is utilized for a return mailing; a pocket sheet which overlies the inner face of one of said marginal portions of the return envelope area, said pocket sheet having three margins contiguous with those of said one'of said marginal portions and being connected to the body sheet along three margins to define with said one of said marginal portions an inwardly open envelope pocket; a iirst area of adhesive along the lateral outer margin of the pocket sheet, and a second area of adhesive along the lateral outer margin of said second marginal portion of the return envelope area on the inner face thereof, said advertising area having its lateral margins recessed in areas coinciding with said areas of adhesive so that the advertising area `may be superposed upon the return envelope area and leave both said adhesive areas exposed, whereby said mailing piece may be selectively arranged for initial mailing or return mailing with all three portions of the return envelope area intact by folding it with the marginal portion bearing the utilized address space for the desired mailing concealing the other address space, the utilized address being outermost in each mailing.

7.` A return envelope mailing piece comprising: a body sheet which is divided by fold lines into three laterally extending equal rectangular portions including two marginal portions and a center portion, each said body portion being uninterrupted between its boundaries, and said body sheet having an advertising area and a return envelope area which are laterally adjacent and separated by a fold line, the outer face of a iirst marginal portion of the return envelope area providing a mailing address space which is utilized for an initial mailing and the outer face of the second marginal portion of said area providing a return address space which is utilized for a return mailing; a pocket sheet which overlies the inner face of one of said marginal portions of the return envelope area, said pocket sheet having three margins contiguous with those of said one of said marginal portions and being connected to the body sheet along said three margins to dene with said one of said marginal portions an inwardly open envelope pocket; and an area of adhesive along the lateral outer margin of the inner face of the return address space, the advertising area having its lateral margin recessed in an area coinciding with said area of adhesive so that the advertising area may be superposed upon the return envelope area and leave the area of adhesive exposed, whereby said mailing piece may be selectively arranged for initial mailing or return 7 mailing with all threep'rortions ofthe body sheet intact by folding it withthe marginal portion bearing the utilized address space for the desired Ymailing concealing the otheraddres's space, the utilized address being outermost in each mailing.: Y

References Cited in the le of this patent- UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,185,993 Fujioka Iune 61916 Brown V Ian. 1, 1924 -Klinger Jan. 23, 1934 Smith Sawdon f Feb. .1, Kosteling ..1;.. ..1.. June 25, 1946` David June 15, 1954 Sawdon Aug. 21, 1956 Krohn Dec. 11, 1956' 

